Apparatus for



(Nc Model.) 2 S'hets-fSheet 1.

J. SCOTT.

APPARATUS'PUR LUBRICATING THE JOURNALS 0F HEAVY ROLLS, dw. No. 250,585. Patented Deo. 6,1881.

mullun lll 'n HII MII 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Mouex.)

J. SCOTT.

APPARATUS POR LUBRIGATING THE JOURNALS 0F HEAVY ROLLS, aw. No. 250.585'.

Patented Deo. 6,1881.

N. mens. nummunpw. mmm. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES SCOTT, OF SHARPSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR LUBRICATING THE JOURNALS 0F HEAVY RLLS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 250,585, dated December 6, 1881. Application filed October 13, 1881. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern Beit known that I, JAMES SCOTT, of Sharpsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvem ent in Apparatus for Lubricating the Journals of Heavy Rolls, duc.; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an end view of a pair of rolls for rolling metals, illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly in section, of the lubricator and 'conducting-tubes; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of part of a journal, -illustrating the use of the feeding-tube therewith.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

My invention relates to apparatus for lubricating the journals of rolls for rolling metals,

and like heavy journals. On account of the strain to'which these rolls are suhj ected they are necessarily made exceedingly heavy, and consequently require a lubricating compound of heavy gravity and body which will hold to the journals, the ordinary lubricating-oils being pressed out by the weight of the rolls without lubricating them, and permitting the necks or journals to heat and crack or break. On account of the gravity and density of the compounds used on these rolls they could not be fed through the ordinary lubricators, and were applied to the rolls by means of swabs by the Workmen, or, if too thick, as was often the case in cold weather, they'were cut out of the barrel and spread on by suitable tools. The objections to these means of applying the compounds were numerous, as so m'uch was lost that more than double the amount actually necessary was used, and the adjacent parts of the rolls and housings were unavoidably smeared with the compound. 1f the workmennal and conduct the heat generated by its friction with the journalfor radiated from the j ournal,.rolls, or material being rolled, to the reservoir and cause the. m'elting of the compound and its feeding to the journal; and, third, in certain details of construction, hereinafter specically set forth.

To en able others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, .I will describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings, A represents one housing 0f a two-high rolling-mill, and B B represent the journals of a pair of rolls mounted therein in the usual journal-boxes, c c' o2 of.

.Secured to one side of the housing is the reservoir I), for holding the heavy lubricating compound to be applied to the necks or journals of the rolls. '.Ilhis reservoir is formed of cast or sheet metal, as desired, and is secured to'the housing a. short distance above the up- .per roll-journal, B. It is generally made large enough to hold sucient compound for at least one turn, or twelve hours7 work on the rolls, and is provided with a cover, d, either hinged or removable.

In the base of the reservoir are the valve apparatus E, one or more, according to the number of rolls in the .housing to which itis attached. The valvejrseat c of the valve has an angular ring, f, below the seat, and a tubular extension, g, threaded on the exterior, ,and it tits into a recess inf'the base of the reservoir, the extension g passing through a hole in the center of the recess. The valve-seat is secured in place by a nut, h, screwed on the extension against the bottom of the reservoir, a rubber or other washer being confined below the ring to form a tight joint. The valve-seats e are preferably madefunnel-shaped, and the valves IOO ' journals.

fitting into them' are cone-shaped, the lines of incline corresponding in each, so thatadelieate adjustment ofthe valve may be obtained. The funnel-shaped valve-seat e is also perforated at different points, so that the lubricating coinpound can feed freely into it from all sides, entering as well through these perforations as through the mouth. Extending across the reservoir, above each val ve-seat, is thesupport l, and in this support, immediately above each valve-seat, is a threaded hole iu which the threaded valve-stem m works, said stem carrying the conical .valve 7c. At the upper end ot' the stem m is the hand-Wheel n, by means of which the valve is opened and closed to regulate the feeding ofthe compound.

It is evident that the construction or forin of the valve apparatus may be altered without departing from lny invention; but this form has been found most advantageous, as it permits the free feeding of the compound, and at the saine time is capable of delicate and accurate adjustment, so that the proper amount of the lubricating compound may be fed to the journal.

The valve-seateis preferably made ofa m etal ,which is a good conductor of heat-such as copper-so that any heat carried up the feeding-tubes, as hereinafter described, will be conducted into the reservoir to melt the compound or keep it in such a semi-fluid or unctuous condition as to feed easily through the valve and tube.

P P are the feeding-tubes for conducting the lubricating compound from the reservoir to the These tubes are secured to the extensions g of the valve-seats,land they extend thence to the journals B B ofthe rolls, being bent or curved, so as to extend around the housing back to the proper position on the journal forfeedingthecompound, the tubes being made of metal which is sufficiently pliable to be bent to the desired shape. The feeding-tube for the upper roll-journal is generally arranged to extend between the journal-boxes c c', so as to deliver the compound on the upper part of the journal,therotary motion of the journal spreading it evenly over its entire surface when it comes against the boxes or bearings. The

Afeeding-tube for the lower `rolljournal is generally arranged to deliver it at the top of the journal, as this part is left free by the box ci'. The ends p of the tubes are cut 4olf diagonally, so that While the point rests on the journal the amount feeding to the journal and dropping thereon can be easily seen. As the rolls are often adjusted vertically to different widths of pass and the feeding ot the metal through them often causes their jarring or movement, the tubes are necessarily made of tnbin g which will spring to follow the movement ofthe rolls, so as to hold their feeding ends to the faces of the journals during the rotation of the rolls. The tubes are also formed of a metal which is a .good conductor of heat, so that the heat generated by the frictionof the tube on the journal, or radiated thereto from the heated journals, rolls, or inaterial being rolled, will be rapidly transmitted through the tubes into the reservoir to melt the compound, as above described. The tubing best adapted for this purpose is a copper tubing, as this not only has sufficient spring to hold the feeding ends to and cause them to follow the vertical movement of the journals, but is an excellent heat-conductor, there being fev.7 metals which combine both requisites. Other special advantages ofthe copper tubing are that as it is soft and pliable it. will not scratch or cut into the journal, and it can be bent and twisted so as to feed the composition at any desired part of thejournal.

To generate greater heat by the friction of the tube on the journal the feeding end p is provided With a dat extension or fan-tail, r, to lie or press on the journal-surface, thus giving the tube a greater surface-bearing on the journal. To prevent the escape of the heat so absorbed by the feeding-tubes they are covered with any suitable non -oondueting covering, s-sueh as asbestus, paper, hair felt, or similar material-which prevents the chilling of the tubes from external causes, and causes the heat to be conducted to the reservoir. The

with or secured under it, for the reception of a lamp, U, by means of which the reservoir is heated in cold weather, or where the heat conducted through 'the tubes to the reservoir is insufficient to cause the compound to feed through the tubes. This lamp may be provided with a single burner, u, or with a burner to play one against the bottom of the reservoir, and one to play against each separate feeding-tube and valve apparat-ns, as shown,-

the llames from the burners thus keeping the reservoir and feeding apparatus heated. Gras jets may, of course, be employed for the same purpose.

The operation of my i mproved lubricating apparatus is as follows: The reservoir is secured tothe housing or frame ofthe roll or other journal, the housing being used in rolls because the most convenient place, and also because it often becomes heated during the running of the rolls, and will aid in melting the lubricating compound. The feeding-tubesare then bent so as to feed the com pound to the proper place. The lubricating compound (generally formed of greases and ,iinely-pulverized plumbago, and having at ordinary temperatures the consistency of tallow, but much thicker and harder in cold weather) is placed in the reservoir and the valves 7c opened, so as to permit the flow of the compound through the tubes. The heat IOO IIO

radiated to the tubes and generated by the friction of the tubes, as above described, and carried through the heat-conducting tubes to the reservoir, will at ordinary temperatures cause the melting and feeding of the compound to the journals, the amount fed being regulated by the valves k, and being easily seen as it drops or flows on the journals, on account of the diagonal feeding ends of the tubes. The heat carried by the feeding-tubes is protected from escape by the non-conductin g covering s' of the tubes, so that the greater portion of it passes directly along the copper tubes into the reservoir. Where the rolls are adj usted ver tically, or caused t0 rise and fall by the passage of the metal, the spring feedtubes will follow their motion and hold the ends of the tubes on the journals, so that they will always be in position to absorb and conduct the heat to the reservoir. If the lubricating compound has become chilled and coagulated While the rolls are not in use, it can be caused to flow more quickly by the heat from the lamp or gas jet, directed either ou. the reservoir alone or also on the different tubes and valve apparatus. In ordinary weather, however, this supplemental heat is necessary only for a short time. In very severe weather this supplemental means of heating may be employed during the entire turn7 to insure the proper feedingof the compound to the journals. I thus obtain a regular feeding of the heavy lubricating compound to the journals, so that no more than the amount requisite to lubricate them is employed, and the excess heretofore Wasted when applied by the swab or other tool is saved, less than half the ordinary amount being used to lubricate the rolls. As the feeding is automatic and regular the liability of the journals becoming heated because of neglect to lubricate is entirely overcome, and the journals are perfectly lubricated, even where subject to vertical movement, and in the most severe weather.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is-

.1. The Aimproved lubricator for heavy rolls and like journals, formed ofareservoir secured abovethe journal to the housing or frame, apparatus for regulating the feed of the lubricating compound, and a pliable tube for conducting it to any desired part of the journal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In lubricators for heavy rolls and like journals, a reservoir secured above the journal to the housing or frame, feed-regulating apparatus, and a pliable feeding tube or tubes formed of heat-conducting metal adapted to rest upon the journal or journals, and conduct the heat therefrom to the reservoir, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In lubrcators for heavy rolls and like journals, a reservoir secured above the journal to the housing or frame, and provided with a spring feeding-tube adapted to rest upon and follow the motion of the journal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In luhricators for heavy rolls and like journals, a feeding-tube havinga diagonal feeding end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In lubricators for heavy rolls and like journals, the feeding-tube P, having the diagonal feedingendp, and the extension 1', adapted to rest ou tbejournal, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In lubricators for heavy rolls and like journals, the feeding-tube for conducting the lubricating compound from the reservoir to the journal, formed of heat-conducting metal and protected by a non-conducting covering, sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In lubrieators for feeding heavy lubricating compounds, the combination of the reservoir D and lamp or gasl jet U for heating the reservoir, substantially as set forth.

8. In lubrieators for feeding heavy lubricating compounds, the combination of the conical valve k and funnel-shaped valve-seat e, having perforations formed therein, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I, the said JAMES SCOTT, have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES soorr.

Witnesses:

F. G. KAY, J AMES I. KAY. 

